>> THIS IS A TEST FOR "HERE AND
NOW" ON APRIL 2, 2021.
TESTING ONE TWO TESTING.
CAPTIONER IS READY TO GO.
SORRY FOR THE DELAY.
TEST TEST.
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> GOO EVENING.
GOO GOOD EVENING.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT, THE RACE FOR STATE
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
CANDIDATES DEBORAH KERR AND JILL
UNDERLY APPEAR TOGETHER TONIGHT
JUST AHEAD OF TUESDAY'S
ELECTION.
THEN ANALYSIS AND A LOOK AHEAD
TO ELECTION DAY.
BILL MCCOSHEN AND SCOT ROSS ARE
ALSO HERE.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR APRIL 2.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> JUST THREE DAYS TO THE SPRING
ELECTION, THREE DAYS LEFT IN A
STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN TO LEAD THE
WISCONSIN K-12 SCHOOL SYSTEM.
THERE ARE TWO CANDIDATES
FIGHTING FOR THIS JOBMENT DB HAS JOB.
DEBORAH KERR HAS WORKED IN THE
BROWN DEER SCHOOL DISTRICT AND A
R IS CO-CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE
FOR ADVANCING TEACHERS.
JILL UNDERLY IS A SOCIAL STUDIES
TEEP ER.
SHE'S WORKED AS A LICENSING
SPECIALIST AT THE DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION AND FOR THE
PAST SIX YEARS HAS SERVED AS
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE PESK PECATONICA
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
MARISA WOJCIK PROVIDES THIS
OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE KEY
ISSUES IN THE RACE.
>> THE RACE FOR WISCONSIN'S NEXT
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
IS COMING TO THE FINAL PUSH FOR
CANDIDATES JILL UNDERLY AND
DEBORAH KERR, HAVING JUST THREE
DAYS LEFT IN THE CAMPAIGN TO
APPEAL TO VOTERS FOR TUESDAY'S
ELECTION.
THE RACE HIGHLIGHTS KEY
CONTRASTS BETWEEN DEMOCRATIC
BACKED UNDER LI AND GOP-BACKED
KERR INCLUDING HOW THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED IN THE
MIDST OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE GOVERNOR CLOSED SCHOOLS IN
SPRING LAST YEAR.
BY THE FALL, SCHOOL DISTRICTS
COULD DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES
WHETHER TO REOPEN CLASSROOMS,
TEACH VIRTUALLY OR RUN A HYBRID
MODEL.
>> SOME DISTRICTS REOPENED RIGHT
AWAY IN SEPTEMBER, WITH A
VIRTUAL OPTION.
OTHERS HAVE WAITED, KEEPING
STUDENTS LEARNING FROM HOME AS
POSITIVE COVID CASES CONTINUED
TO RISE THROUGH DECEMBER.
>> SOME FAMILIES HOPED FOR US TO
OACH
OPEN SOONER.
SOME FAMILIES ARE THINKING WE
COULD BE WAITING LONGER.
I'M EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS THE
CHANCE THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE.
>> THE MADISON SCHOOL DISTRICT
BEGAN TO PHASE KINDERGARTEN
THROUGH 2nd GRADE BACK TO THE
CLASSROOMS.
>> AS AN EDUCATOR, CHILDREN
BRING JOY AND IT REALLY HAS BEEN
JOYFUL EVEN THOUGH THERE'S
DIFFERENT ROUTINES AND
PROCEDURES WE ARE FOLLOWING.
>> THERE'S NO OFFICIAL RECORD OF
WHICH DISTRICTS RETURNED AND
WHEN, BUT MADISON AND MILWAUKEE
APPEAR TO BE THE LAST REMAINING
DISTRICTS TEACHING MOSTLY
VIRTUALLY.
THE ISSUE HAS BEEN A LIGHTNING
ROD OF DEBATE, ONE SIDE
CONTENDING STUDENTS NEED TO BE
BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, THE OTHER
SIDE DISPUTING THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF RETURNING IN PERSON.
ONE THING IS CERTAIN: MANY
STUDENTS STRUGGLED TO LEARN
ONLINE AND DISTRICTS ARE PLAYING
CATCH-UP.
>> THERE'S SOME STRUCTURES AND
SUPPORTS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
ABLE TO TARGET INSTRUCTION FOR
STUDENTS.
>> THE OUTGOING SUPERINTENDENT
SAYS SCHOOL CLOSURES MAGNIFIED
MANY INEQUITIES.
>> THE BIGGEST THING ON MY MIND
FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN IS
THAT WE HAVE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS IN THE COUNTRY,
SO I THINK THAT NEEDS TO BE THE
TOP OF OUR FOCUS FOR EVERYONE IN
EDUCATION.
>> CONTINUING TO DISRUPT
PRACTICES THAT HAVE FURTHER
MARGINALIZED STUDENTS OF COLOR.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THAT
WORK.
HOPEFULLY WHO'S EVER IN THAT
ROLE WILL SUPPORT US.
>> OTHER ISSUES ARE THE PRIVATE
SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM, SCHOOL
FUNDING AND TEACHERS UNIONS.
FOR "HERE AND NOW" I'M MARISA
WOJCIK IN MADISON.
>> AND WE ARE JOINED NOW BY THE
CANDIDATES.
DEBORAH KERR JOINS US FROM
MILWAUKEE.
JILL UNDERLY APPEARS FROM
MADISON AND THANKS TO BOTH OF
YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HEY.
SO MARISA TEED UP SOME OF THE
AREAS FOR US TO EXPLORE, FIRST
REOPENING OF SCHOOLS.
DEBORAH KERR, ONE OF YOUR ADS
SAYS WE CAN NO LONGER PLAY
POLITICS WITH OUR CHILDREN.
HOW ARE POLITICS BEING PLAYED ON
THIS ISSUE OF REOPENING SCHOOLS?
>> SEVERAL MONTHS I PUT OUT A
PLAN TO REOPEN OUR SCHOOLS
SAFELY AND SENSIBLY.
I HAD A REENTRY PLAN AND
RECOVERY PLAN.
WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE FIEFT FIVE
LARGEST DISTRICTS IN THE STATE
HAVE NOT REOPENED BECAUSE OF
TEACHERS UNIONS.
WE NEED TO OPEN OUR SCHOOLS
SAFELY.
THE SCIENCE SHOWS WE CAN OPEN
OUR SCHOOLS SAFELY, THAT
STUDENTS DON'T SPREAD THE
DISEASE AND TEACHERS DON'T
NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE
VACCINATED TO OPEN SCHOOLS
SAFELY.
WE HAVE OVER 70% OF SCHOOLS OPEN
IN WISCONSIN.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE WITH
WHITE STUDENTS.
OUR PREDOMINANTLY MIGHT HAVE
NORTH STUDENTS ARE NOT BACK IN
SCHOOL YET FULL-TIME AND WE NEED
TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS SO WE
CAN GET ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY.
>> TO YOU, JI JILL UNDERLY.
WHAT WOULD BE YOUR GUIDANCE TO
DISTRICTS NOW OPEN OR THOSE NOT
FULLY BACK IN PERSON IF, AS
THESE NEW TRENDS ARE SHOWING,
COVID CASES START GOING UP
AGAIN?
YOUR GUIDANCE TO DISTRICTS?
>> YEAH.
MY GUIDANCE IS I WOULD SUGGEST
THAT THE TEACHERS GET VACCINATED
ESPECIALLY IF CASES ARE GOING
UP.
MY SCHOOL HAS BEEN OPEN.
WE REALLY WORKED HARD TO MAKE
SURE MY SCHOOL COULD BE OPENED
AND WE DID SO SAFELY.
WE SPACED PEOPLE OUT AND MADE
SURE THAT WE HIRED ADDITIONAL
PERSONNEL AND HAD PPE.
LIKE I SAID, MY SCHOOL HAS BEEN
OPEN.
WE DID SO SAFELY.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL
ALONG, IS THAT THE LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS KNOW HOW TO DO THIS
AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT
DECISION.
>> NOW, THIS IS A NONPARTISAN
ELECTED OFFICE, YET DEB KERR HAS
THE BACKING OF REPUBLICANS.
JILL UNDERLY, YOU HAVE THE
BACKING AND ENDORSEMENT OF THOSE
THAT INCLUDE THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY, POLITICIANS AND UNIONS.
IN A FORUM THIS WEEK, MISS KERR,
YOU ACCUSED DEMOCRATS OF BUYING
THIS ELECTION FOR YOUR OPPONENT.
WHY IN YOUR ESTIMATION WOULD
THEY DO THAT?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
I'M DEEPLY SADDENED BY T.
THERE'S BEEN NAME-CALLING,
DISPARAGING REMARKS MADE ABOUT
MY SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
THE DEMOCRATS AND UNIONS HAVE
PUT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS INTO
MY
MY OPPONENT'S CAMPAIGN.
SHE HAS DUG UP DIRT ON MY
SITUATION IN BROWN DEER WITH A
BUSINESS MANAGER.
SHE'S TALKING ABOUT ISSUES THAT
SHE HAS NO UNDERSTANDING OF.
SO THOSE MILLION DOLLAR ADS ARE
BEING RUN RIGHT NOW.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF THING YOU
SEE IN A GUBERNATORIAL RACE, NOT
A STATE SUPERINTENDENT'S RACE.
>> JILL UNDERLY, YOU HAVE SAID
IT SADDENS YOU THAT THIS RACE
HAS BECOME SO PARTISAN.
HOW SO AND WHY DOES IT SADDEN
YOU?
>> IT SADDENS ME BECAUSE
SUPPORTING OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
WHICH SERVES 860,000 KIDS
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN, IT HAS
BECOME PARTISAN.
THERE ARE ISSUES SUCH AS
FUNDING, FOR EXAMPLE, REOPENING
THE SCHOOLS.
THOSE CERTAINLY ARE THINGS THAT
HAVE MADE IT BECOME PARTISAN.
BUT ORGANIZATIONS AND
INDIVIDUALS ON BOTH SIDES ARE
LINING UP.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE BIG RIGHT WING
ANTIPUBLIC EDUCATION DONORS ARE
OF COURSE SUPPORTING DR. KERR.
AND THEN GRASSROOTS,
PROGRESSIVES, MEMBER-FUNDED
ORGANIZATIONS ARE SUPPORTING ME.
YOU KNOW, I'M PROUD OF THE
SUPPORT I'M GETTING BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE INVESTING IN A LEADER
THAT THEY KNOW HAS GOOD
JUDGMENT, CAN MANAGE A BUDGET
AND WILL MAKE OUR SCHOOLS
STRONGER.
I'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO
GET MY MESSAGE OUT TO VOTERS AND
I'M PROUD OF THE SUPPORT I'VE
BEEN RECEIVING FROM EVERY CORNER
OF THE STATE.
>> AT THIS POINT WE WANT TO GO
THIS DIRECTION.
WE ASKED EACH OF YOU TO COME
PREPARED TO ASK A QUESTION
DIRECTLY OF YOUR OPPONENTMENT OPPONENT.
FIRST TO JILL UNDERLY.
WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION FOR DEB
KERR?
>> OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
JUDGMENT IS AN ISSUE IN THIS
CAMPAIGN.
DEB, YOU'VE CAREENED FROM CRISIS
TO CRISIS IN THIS RACE.
YOU'VE GOT A FINANCIAL PROBLEM
FROM TEN YEARS AGO STILL DOGGING
YOU.
THERE'S AETH AN ETHICS COMPLAINT
AGAINST YOU.
YOU HAD TO DELETE YOUR TWITTER
ACCOUNT BUT NOT BEFORE YOU
STARTED BLOCKING CRITICS.
YOUR CAMPAIGN TEAM QUIT AND YOUR
MANAGER HAS ENDORSED ME NOW.
SO MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN VOTERS
HAVE CONFIDENCE YOU HAVE THE
GOOD JUDGMENT AND DISCIPLINE TO
RUN THIS CRIST CRITICAL STATE AGENCY?
>> MISS KERR, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR
RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE
OVER 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OF
BEING IN EDUCATION, 34 YEARS OF
PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION.
I'M PAROCHIAL EDUCATED AND BEEN
A SUPERINTENDENT FOR 20 YEARS.
I HAVE LOTS OF EXPERIENCE
SUPERVISING EMPLOYEES AND STAFF.
UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THIS HAS
BECOME A PARTISAN ISSUE,
PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS HAVE BEEN
THREATENED.
AND THAT'S SO UNFORTUNATE
BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE TO GO
THAT WAY.
YOU ALSO HAD AN ETHICS COMPLAINT
AGAINST YOURSELF.
THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT
FORTH WITH THOSE TYPES OF
COMPLAINTS HAVE GONE TO PRISON.
THE ETHICS COMPLAINTS I HAVE,
THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NOT.
I HAD INCIDENTAL CONTACT IN
STARTING A NEW BUSINESS AND I
DID NOT EXCHANGE ANY KIND OF
CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT.
SO I THINK YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN VERY
DEVASTATING TO MY BROWN DEER
COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE BEHIND ME
100%.
IN FACT, THEY HAVE COME OUT AND
PUT ADS IN THE PAPER SUPPORTING
ME AND THEY WILL ALWAYS BACK ME
BECAUSE I WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN
ABLE TO STAY AS A SUPERINTENDENT
IN BROWN DEER FOR 13 YEARS IF I
HAD SOME OTHER KIND OF FINANCIAL
IRREGULARITY.
SO YOU ARE MISSPOKEN ABOUT THAT
AND THAT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE.
>> AT THIS POINT I'D LIKE TO DIG
INTO SOME OF THAT, BUT I ALSO
WANT TO GET TO SOME OF THE
IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS RACE.
SO I WILL ASK YOU, DEB KERR,
WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION THEN FOR
JILL UNDERLY?
>> WHEN A CANDIDATE SPENDS ALL
THEIR TIME AND THEIR RESOURCES
PUTTING DOWN SOMEONE ELSE, A
FORMER COLLEAGUE, IT'S BECAUSE
THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOT CAPABLE OF
COMPETING AT A HIGH LEVEL.
YOU CLEARLY, JILL, DO NOT
UNDERSTAND OUR STATE.
YOU APPROACH EVERYTHING FROM A
PARTISAN BIEWFER CAT BUREAUCRAT MINDSET.
HOW WILL YOU TAKE YOUR APPROACH
TO OUR STATE AND WORK WITH
REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE,
ESPECIALLY AFTER CALLING THEM
TRANSPHOBIC?
I'D LIKE TO HEAR YOU CONTINUING
WHAT HAS GONE ON IN THE DPI FOR
YEARS IS GOING TO MAKE US BETTER
WHEN WISCONSIN KIDS HAVE CLEARLY
SUFFERED UNDER YOUR PARTISAN
STYLE OF LEADERSHIP.
>> MISS UNDERLY, GO AHEAD.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
SO THIS CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT GOOD
JUDGMENT, AND I'VE GOT OVER 20
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN RURAL,
URBAN AND SUBURBAN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS AS WELL AS IN HIGHER
EDUCATION AND INCLUDING THE
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION.
THIS CAMPAIGN IS ABOUT EQUITY, A
LEADER WHO CAN BRING EQUITY TO
SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, EXPANDING
MENTAL HEALTH.
IT'S ABOUT LEADING OUR SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.
I HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE
SUPPORTING ME, DOZENS OF
SUPERINTENDENTS, SCHOOL BOARD
MEMBERS, COUNTY BOARD MEMBERS,
CITY COUNCIL.
I HAVE A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF
LEGISLATORS.
AND THEY SUPPORT ME BECAUSE I'M
DEDICATED TO WISCONSIN'S KIDS,
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND I'VE
DEMONSTRATED THE GOOD JUDGMENT
AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WE NEED
IN THIS POSITION.
>> I THINK WE LEAVE THAT SECTION
THERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
VERY POINTED QUESTIONS,
DIFFICULT IN THIS NONPARTISAN
RACE, ONCE AGAIN.
BUT THANK YOU.
I WANT TO GET NOW TO ACHIEVEMENT
GAPS.
TWO EDUCATORS IN MARISA'S
REPORTING SPOKE TO THEIR CONCERN
THAT THE PAST YEAR HAD
EXACERBATED ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.
WHAT IS THE VERY BEST WAY TO
ELIMINATE THESE GAPS?
JILL UNDERLY, FIRST TO YOU.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
ELIMINATING THESE GAPS IS
SOMETHING I'M VERY PASSIONATE
ABOUT.
I SEE THEM AS OPPORTUNITY GAPS
BECAUSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS SEEMS
IT'S LIKE SOMETHING THE KIDS
DID.
IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES.
THE ZIP CODE YOU LIVE IN
DETERMINES YOUR EDUCATIONAL
STUDENTS AND OUTCOMESMENT SO IN
ORDER TO ADDRESS THIS, WE TO
LOOK AT EQUITY, THE PROGRAMS
THAT WORK, SUP AS SUCH AS WRAP-AROUND
CHILD CARE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
KIDS, LOOKING AT EXPANDING
MENTAL HEALTH ASK SES, ACCESS AND ALSO
RECRUITING TEEP TEEP TEACHERS.
THE KIND OF UNDERLYING ALL THF
IS THE FACT THAT OUR SCHOOL
FUNDING FORMULA IS BROKEN.
WE NEED TO INFUSE IT WITH
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SO WE CAN
PROVIDE THESE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
OUR KIDS.
>> DEB KERR, WHAT'S YOUR FIRST
PRIORITY IN ADDRESSING
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS OR OPPORTUNITY
GAPS, AS DR. UNDERLY REFERS TO
THEM?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUS
NATURE OF THESE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS
AND UNFORTUNATELY UNDER THE
CURRENT LEADERSHIP THERE'S BEEN
TEN YEARS OF THE ACHIEVEMENT
GAPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BETWEEN
OUR BLACK AND WHITE STUDENTS.
WE NEED TO GET WISCONSIN OFF THE
LIST OF UNDER-PERFORMING STATES.
I WILL DO THAT BY LEADING ADY
VEERS SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FOCUS
ON LITERACY AND MATH.
SO I WAS ABLE TO CLOSE
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS, RAISE
ACHIEVEMENT AND GET ALMOST 100%
GRADUATION RATE.
IT CAN BE DONE WITH FOCUSED
INTERVEFNTIONS AND HIGH-QUALITY
CURRICULUM FOR TEACHERS,
SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRRCHTS PARENTS TOO.
WE'VE GOT TO WORK ON THESE EXACT
ISSUES.
I DO AGREE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE
A LOOK AT THE WAY SCHOOLS ARE
FUNDED.
AND I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE
THAT THE STATE SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT IS IN CHARGE OF
ALL STUDENTS.
IT'S THE LAW.
SO I WANT TO BRING PEOPLE TO THE
TABLE TO TALK ABOUT HOW WITH CAN
WE BEST FUND ALL KIDS AND WHAT
DOES A HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION
LOOK LIKE SO WE CAN CLOSE
ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.
>> AS IMPORTANT AS THAT ISSUE
IS, I WANTED TO JUMP TO
SOMETHING THAT WAS MENTIONED
PREVIOUSLY AND THAT IS THE FACT
THAT LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND HERE IN WISCONSIN
ARE CONSIDERING THESE LAWS TO
PROHIBIT TRANSGENDER AGENT ATHLETES.
DEB KERR, YOU SUPPORT THOSE
PROCEED BENEFICIALS.
TELL US WHY.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN
FRUSTRATED WITH IS SOME OF THESE
QUESTIONS THAT REALLY ARE NOT IN
THE PURVIEW OF THE STATE
SUPERINTENDENT.
BUT I SPEAK TO THEM FROM MY
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
SO I'M A COLLEGE ATHLETE, I'M A
GIRL OF TITLE IX.
I AM NOT TRANSPHOBIC AND NEVER
HAVE BEEN.
I'VE WORKED WITH MY KIDS AND
TEACH NERS MANY, MANY WAYS TO
SUPPORT THEM NO MATTER WHERE
THEY COME TO US, WHAT ENTRY
POINT AND WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT
THEY WANT TO BE.
AND SO THAT INFORMATION, THE LAW
AND THE LEGISLATURE, THOSE KIND
OF THINGS ARE VERY COMPLEX.
AND THEY'RE VERY NUANCED.
AND SO UNFORTUNATELY MY ANSWER
WAS TAKEN OUT CONTEXT IN A
SHORT, LITTLE SOUND-BITE.
>> OKAY.
JILL UNDERLY, YOUR RESPONSE TO
THAT SAME QUESTION?
YOUR POSITION ON ANY KIND -- ANY
KIND LEGISLATIVE BILLS THAT
WOULD BAN TRANSGENDER ATHLETES
FROM COMPETING ON GIRLS OR
WOMEN'S TEAMS.
>> ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
SO LOOK.
SERVING ALL KIDS MEANS SERVING
ALL KIDS.
AND WE CAN'T TURN OUR BACK ON
THOSE WHO NEED OUR HELP THE
MOST.
THE TRUTH IS THAT THIS IS AN
ISSUE MEANT TO DIVIDE AND
DISTRACT US.
THIS RACE IS ABOUT WHO HAS THE
BEST JUDGMENT, BEST FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND BEST
VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
THE COMPARISON IS CLEAR.
>> I WANT TO GO TO THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE AND THAT IS ONE
OF THE STARKEST DIFFERENCE
NOTICE YOUR POSITIONS AROUND
TAX-FUNDED VOUCHER SCHOOLS.
GOVERNOR EVERS' BUDGET CALLS FOR
A CAP ON CHOICE ENROLLMENT.
SHOULD IT BE CAPPED?
FIRST TO YOU, DEB KERR.
>> FIRST OF ALL, IT'S THE LAW.
AND I DON'T THINK THE
LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO PASS
THAT LAW TO CAP ANYTHING.
I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
IN FOUR YEARS WHEN THOSE CAPS
COME OFF.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE IN A CRISIS.
I'M WORRIED THAT OUR PUBLIC
SCHOOL PRRCHTS WHO HAVE PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN TO
VOUCHER SCHOOLS ARE NOT COMING
BACK.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE EVERY
PARENT CHOOSE THEIR PUBLIC
SCHOOL IN THEIR OWN
NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THIS IS WHY WE
HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE IN WISCONSIN
AND I RESPECT THAT LIBERTY.
>> I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME
LEFT BUT OF COURSE YOU WANT,
JILL UNDERLY, TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK THAT
ENROLLMENT ON SCHOOL CHOICE
SHOULD BE CAPPED.
>> I DO THINK IT SHOULD BE
CAPPED.
I'M NOT LOOKING TO TAKE A
VOUCHER AWAY FROM A STUDENT.
IN THE LONG TERM, WE WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO FINANCE TWO SCHOOL
SYSTEMS IN WISCONSIN AND WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY CHILD
HAS ACCESS TO A QUALITY
EDUCATION IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL,
PERIOD.
>> WE LEAVE IT THERE.
DEB KERR, JILL UNDERLY, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THREE MORE DAYS TO THE SPRING
ELECTION, PLENTY OF TIME TO GO
TO wisconsinvote.org FOR MORE
ON THE CANDIDATES.
JOINING US NOW TO LOOK AHEAD TO
LIKS
ELECTION DAY AND FOR ANALYSIS,
"HERE AND NOW" POLITICAL
PANELISTS BILL MCCOSHEN AND SCOT
ROSS.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
SO FIRST TO YOU, SCOT.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT
INTERVIEW THAT WE JUST AIRED?
>> WELL, I THINK IT SHOWS THE
REAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO
CANDIDATES.
JILL UNDERLY BELIEVES THAT EVERY
STUDENT DESERVES A HIGH-QUALITY
PUBLIC EDUCATION EVERY DAY NO
MATTER WHERE THEIR ZIP CODE IS
AND DEB CESH IS KERR IS TRYING TO COBBLE
TOGETHER A WAY TO WIN ON
ELECTION DAY.
IT'S BETWEEN AN EDUCATOR AND A
POLITICIAN.
>> BILL, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> WELL, I THINK WHERE I
DISAGREE WITH SCOT IS I THINK IT
WAS TWO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS
RUNNING FOR THIS POSITION.
DEB KERR HAS BEEN IN PUBLIC
EDUCATION FOR 40 YEARS, JILL
UNDERLY FOR A LITTLE OVER 20
YEARS.
SO THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN
SUPERINTENDENTS OF SUCCESSFUL
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
DEB KERR, MAJORITY/MINORITY
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
JILL UNDERLY, IT'S ONLY 1% BLACK
OR BROWN.
WHERE SCOT AND I WILL DISAGREE
IS ON THE ISSUES PEOPLE DISAGREE
ABOUT.
PEOPLE WANT THEIR KIDS BACK IN
SCHOOL.
DEB KERR IS BACK FOR THAT.
THEY WANT ACHIEVEMENT GAPS EE
LIMB KNITTED.
-- ELIMINATED.
DEB KERR HAS DONE THAT.
>> WHY IS THIS RACE FOR SCHOOL
SUPERINTENDENT SO ANGRY?
SCOT?
>> IT'S THE TENOR OF THE
TIMESMENT WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN
PARTY THAT HAS GONE FULL QANON.
THEY CONTINUE TO TRIEF TO
PREVENT PEOPLE FROM VOTING.
THEY'RE ATTACKING TRANSGENDER
STUDENTS.
THAT'S WHY THERE'S A NASTINESS
TO THIS.
I THINK DR. UNDERLY HAS SHOWN
HERSELF TO BE NO DRAMA,
COMPETENT, REEF RELIABLE.
THAT'S WHAT THE VOTERS ARE
LOOKING FOR.
>> SO, BILL, HE'S BLAMING THE
REPUBLICANS.
I TRUST YOU BLAME THE DEMOCRATS.
>> WELL, THE DEMOCRATS THREW THE
MUD FIRST HERE.
DON'T FORGET, THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY OF WISCONSIN HAS PUT
ALMOST A MILLION DOLLARS IN THIS
RACE.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HASN'T PUT
ANY MONEY IN DEB KERR'S RACE.
CLEARLY JILL UNDERLY IS THE
DEMOCRATIC FAVORITE AND TEACHERS
UNIONS' CANDIDATES.
IT GOT MESSY EARLY ON TERTIARY
ISSUES.
I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE TALKED
ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE.
JILL UNDERLY WAS A HYPOCRITE
ABOUT THIS.
SHE SAYS SHE'S FOR PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, BUT SHE SENT HER OWN
KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
>> SHE SAID THAT WAS ABOUT
FINDING A PLACE FOR 4-K AND
AFTER-SCHOOL CARE.
THAT CAME UP IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
BUT, SCOT, WHY DID THE DEMS PUT
SO MUCH INTO THIS RACE?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT
SHOWS THEY WANT TO SEE A GOOD,
COMPETENT DPI SECRETARY.
THE FACT IS IS THAT WHEN WE DO
THESE SPRING ELECTIONS, THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ALWAYS THE
LARGEST FUNDER OF THE
CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE.
SO I'M GLAD TO SEE DEMOCRATS
JUMPING INTO THESE RACES BECAUSE
PEOPLE DESERVE A FULL
UNDERSTANDING OF THE ISSUES.
DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO
THAT BY TALKING ABOUT DEBORAH
KERR'S FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT.
THE FACT THAT SHE HAD TO TAKE
DOWN HER TWITTER FEED.
THAT'S PRETTY BAD.
SHE LOST HER CAMPAIGN TEAM.
THESE ARE ALL SIGNS OF SOMEBODY
WHO IS NOT UP TO THE TASK OF
MANAGING THE STATEWIDE EDUCATION
OF OUR KIDS.
>> IT BEGS THE QUESTION, BILL,
WHY DIDN'T THE BETSY DEVOSS OF
THE THE WORLD POUR MONEY INTO
KERR WHEN THEY SAW THE DEM
EXPENDITURES?
>> I DON'T THINK THEY SAW THE
SHARP CONTRAST THEY WERE LOOKING
FOR.
THERE WERE SOME MISSTEPS BY THE
KERR CAMPAIGN.
THE SHARP CONTRAST BEGAN TO
APPEAR, PARTICULARLY ON THE
SCHOOL CHOICE ISSUE AND THE
REOPENING OF ALL SCHOOLS.
WE KNOW THAT URBAN SCHOOL
DISTRICTS IN MADISON AND
MILWAUKEE, FOR EXAMPLE, STILL
DON'T HAVE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DEB KERR
IS FOR.
I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE BY THE
CHOICE PEOPLE AND FRANKLY THE
BUSINESS COMMUNITY NOT GETTING
MORE INVOLVED IN THIS RACE
EARLIER.
>> BILL, HOW BADLY DOES DEB
KERR'S FORMER EMPLOYEE AND THE
SUBJECT OF UNDERLY'S AD HURT
KERR?
THIS IS THE FINANCE MANAGER IN
THE BROWN DEER SCHOOL DISTRICT
AND ALL OF THAT.
DOES THAT HURT KERR?
>> NO.
JUST SO WE'RE ALL CLEAR ABOUT
THIS AND YOUR VIEWERS, THIS IS
PREACT 10 AND IT WAS MUCH HARDER
TO FIRE A BAD EMPLOYEE IN THOSE
DAYS.
HAD THAT OCCURRED AFTER ACT 10,
DEB COULD HAVE ACTED MORE
QUICKLY TO GET RID OF THAT
PERSON.
>> JILL UNDERLY SAYS THAT GOES
TO JUDGMENT, THAT KIND OF THING.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
BILL'S POINT ON THE CHOICE
COMMUNITY NOT GETTING INVOLVED
AS MUCH, THE DEVOS FOLKS, I
THINK IF DEB KERR HAD STARTED
HER CAMPAIGN ATTACKING TEACHERS
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I THINK
THEY WOULD HAVE COME IN A LOT
EARLIER BECAUSE THAT'S SEEMS TO
BE WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY, THE
TEACHERS ARE THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S NOT WHAT VOTERS BELIEVE.
>> THE UNION IS THE PROBLEM, NOT
THE TEACHERS.
I THINK DEB KERR BELIEVES THE
TEACHERS WANT TO BE BACK IN THE
CLASSROOM, BUT UNIONS ARE
PREVENTING THAT.
JILL UNDERLY IS HAVING AN EVENT
WITH THE UNIONS TODAY IN MADISON
TODAY WHILE THE HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS CAN'T BE IN THE
CLASSROOM.
>> I DON'T THINK THE QUESTION IS
WHY JILL UNDERLY IS GETTING THE
SUPPORT OF THE HARD-WORKING
TEACHESSERS.
THE QUESTION IS WHY DIDN'T DEB
KERR.
IT'S BECAUSE SHE'S ANTIPUBLIC
EDUCATION.
IT'S BECAUSE OF HER JUDGMENT.
IT'S BECAUSE SCOTT WALKER
SUPPORTS HER CAMPAIGN.
>> LET'S FACE IT.
SHE'S A FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE.
YES, THERE WAS A CHANGE IN
CAMPAIGN TEAM.
YOU KNOW, UNDERLY'S HAD THE
BENEFIT OF A PROFESSIONAL
CAMPAIGN TEAM AND LOTS AND LOTS
OF MONEY.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY ON
TUESDAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A
LOW TURNOUT ELECTION AND
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
TYPICALLY IN A SPRING ELECTION,
THE VOTING POPULATION TENDS TO
BE OLDER, THEY TEND TO BE MORE
WHITE AND THEY TEND TO BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE CONSERVATIVE.
DESPITE BEING OUT-SPENT 16-1,
DEB KERR IS VERY MUCH STILL IN
THIS RACE.
>> THE KINDS OF PEOPLE THAT
WOULD BE MOTIVATED TO VOTE IN
THIS KIND OF RACE WOULD BE
SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES AND
TEACHERS.
SCOT, WHO DO YOU THINK HAS MORE
OOMP IN THAT CROWD?
>> I THINK THE TURNOUT COULD BE
LOWER THAN WE'VE HAD IN THE
PAST.
I ALSO KNOW THAT TEACHERS ARE AN
ACTIVE PART OF THE VOTING
POPULATION, ESPECIALLY IN A DPI
SPRING RACE.
IT IS AN OLDER DEMOGRAPHIC.
A LOT OF THEM GET THEIR
INFORMATION FROM TWIST TELEVISION NEWS
AND THAT'S BEEN SHOWING ADS
AGAINST DEB.
SO I THINK EVERYBODY HAS TO DO
WHAT THEY NEED TO DO TO GET
ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
MAYBE THE TURNOUT WILL BE A
LITTLE BIT HIGHER, BUT I THINK
IT'S WITHIN THE REALM THAT JILL
UNDERLY GETS ACROSS THE FINISH
LIGHTS FIRST ON ELECTION DAY.
>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
BILL AND SCOT, THANKS FOR
JOINING US ON THIS.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> FOR MORE NEWS FROM "HERE AND
NOW," YOU CAN VISIT
pbswisconsin.org AND CLICK ON
THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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